Compare towns
Hamden vs Putnam vs Union vs Norwalk
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hamden has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Union has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Norwalk has the most expensive homes ($558k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Hamden | Putnam | Union | Norwalk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 61,045 |
9,292 |
944Lowest |
92,187Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | +6.5% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
49.9±4.3Highest 21% above CT |
40.6±1 about the CT average |
| Union and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±1.5 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.8%±1.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Norwalk and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
17%±1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
24% CT: 42.5% |
44.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
6.7%±0.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,306±$7k about the CT average |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$88,958±$14k 7% below CT |
$107,616±$7kHighest 12% above CT |
| Norwalk and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$330,400±$26k 10% below CT |
$558,000±$21kHighest 52% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,746±$50 17% above CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
— | $2,073±$87Highest 39% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,784 17% above CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$4,793 28% below CT |
$7,817Highest 18% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
52.1%±5.2 CT: 52.6% |
| Union and Norwalk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.3% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
5.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
9.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4% CT: 66.5% |
59.8% CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
55.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1967 same as CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
9%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
15.1%±1.4 CT: 16% |
| Hamden and Norwalk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #122 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | — | #112 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Putnam School District | Union School District | Norwalk School District |
| High school in town | Hamden High School | Putnam High School | None in town | Brien McMahon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
9.5Lowest |
— | 14.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
CT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.